Question 1

A passage describes allegations against a food delivery start up based on a blog post by some current and former employees. Choose the term that best describes the nature of these allegations.

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Introduction / Context: This inference question revolves around a news style passage describing allegations made against a food delivery start up by people claiming to be current and former employees. The allegations appear in a blog post rather than in a formal investigation report or a court judgment. You must select the word that best characterises the nature of these allegations based on that context. Given Data / Assumptions: The allegations are made by four people who claim to be current or former employees. The information appears in a blog post. There is no mention of an official inquiry, verified documents, or a court decision. The question asks how we can describe the allegations themselves. Concept / Approach: When information is based on personal stories or individual experiences rather than systematic evidence or formal investigation, it is often described as "anecdotal". Anecdotal evidence consists of reports and personal accounts that can be useful but are not conclusive or comprehensive. The correct approach is to identify which option captures this idea of personal, story based testimony, as opposed to something definitive, ambiguous, or technically related to fragmentation. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider the phrase "four people claiming to be current and former employees" writing in a blog post. This suggests personal narratives rather than formal proof. Step 2: Option A, "Defragmented", is mainly used in computer terminology and does not fit this context. Step 3: Option B, "Ambiguous", means unclear or having more than one possible meaning. The passage does not say the allegations are unclear; it only describes their source. Step 4: Option C, "Definitive", would mean final or conclusive. The blog post, based on personal accounts, is unlikely to be the final authoritative word. Step 5: Option D, "Anecdotal", refers to information based on personal stories or individual cases, which matches the description of employees posting allegations on a blog. Step 6: Conclude that "anecdotal" is the most accurate descriptor of such allegations. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by recalling how news articles sometimes comment on evidence. When a report is based mostly on complaints shared by individuals without full documentation, journalists call it "anecdotal evidence". The passage here describes exactly that type of source. On the other hand, if courts or regulatory bodies had investigated and issued a detailed report, the allegations could be called "definitive" or "substantiated", which is not the case. There is no indication that the allegations are unclear, so "ambiguous" does not fit either. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Defragmented" is clearly out of place, as it is used in computing to describe the process of reorganising data on a disk. "Ambiguous" is wrong because the passage does not focus on ambiguity, but on the source and nature of the evidence. "Definitive" is also wrong because a blog by a few individuals cannot be considered the final and conclusive word on corporate misconduct. The only option that correctly captures personal, story based and non formal evidence is "anecdotal". Common Pitfalls: Students may be tempted to choose "ambiguous" simply because allegations are often disputed. However, ambiguity refers to unclear meaning, not to the informal or personal nature of evidence. Another pitfall is guessing "definitive" because the allegations sound serious, but seriousness does not imply final proof. When answering such questions, always pay attention to the context in which the information is presented, such as a blog, a rumour, or a formal report, and choose vocabulary that matches that medium. Final Answer: The allegations described in the passage are best characterised as anecdotal.

Question 2

A passage describes efforts to eradicate the practice of chhaupadi and notes that the push from authorities is "far too muted". Choose the word that best describes the reaction of the authorities.

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Introduction / Context: This question asks you to interpret a single descriptive phrase from a passage about attempts to eradicate the harmful practice of chhaupadi. The passage mentions that the push from villagers, the police, and local politicians is "far too muted". You must select the word that best describes this kind of reaction from the authorities. Given Data / Assumptions: Authorities are supposed to help eradicate chhaupadi. The passage states that their effort or push is "far too muted". You are given four adjectives or participles and must choose the one that matches "muted" in this context. The focus is on the strength or intensity of the response. Concept / Approach: In this context, "muted" means low in intensity, restrained, or not forceful enough. It can describe a response that is weak, quiet, or lacking in energy. The best word among the options will reflect the idea of a low key or weak reaction, as opposed to strong or enthusiastic support. We must ignore options that are incorrectly formed or that do not fit the grammatical context. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Interpret "muted" here as subdued, not loud, restrained, or weak. Step 2: Look at option A, "Subdued". This word means restrained, quiet, or not intense, which is very close to the meaning of "muted" in this context. Step 3: Look at option B, "Softened". This suggests that something was made softer, but does not directly describe a general weak level of effort. Step 4: Look at option C, "Dampened". While it can mean reduced enthusiasm, it is usually used for spirits, sound, or impact and is slightly less precise here than "subdued". Step 5: Look at option D, "Quite". This is a misspelt form of "quiet" or is a different word meaning "entirely" or "rather". As written, it is incorrect in this context. Step 6: Conclude that "Subdued" is the most accurate word to describe a muted official response. Verification / Alternative check: You can verify by rewriting the key sentence: "the push to eradicate the practice was still far too muted" becomes "the push to eradicate the practice was still far too subdued". Both sentences suggest that the authorities have not acted strongly enough. If you try "softened" or "dampened", the sentence does not sound as natural or precise in describing an ongoing low intensity response. The misspelt "Quite" cannot be used at all in this position. This practical test supports "Subdued" as the correct answer. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Softened" implies that something became gentle or less harsh, which does not capture the idea of an already weak or underwhelming response. "Dampened" often refers to spirits or enthusiasm being reduced after a specific event, rather than a persistent state of being weak from the start. "Quite" is incorrect in spelling and meaning for this context. None of these matches the idea of a consistently weak and quiet official push as well as "subdued" does. Common Pitfalls: A typical mistake is to treat "muted" only as related to sound and choose a word like "quiet" or its misspelt form. However, modern usage allows "muted" to describe any kind of low intensity reaction, including emotional or political responses. Another pitfall is selecting "dampened" simply because it also suggests reduction, but the nuance of "subdued" is closer to an ongoing quietness or lack of force, which is what the passage highlights. Final Answer: The reaction of the authorities toward the eradication of chhaupadi is best described as subdued.

Question 3

In this passage about modern public administration, choose the single word that correctly fills all three blanks referring to a form of administrative decision making similar to courts.

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Introduction / Context: This question presents a passage about modern public administration and its borrowing of techniques from the legislature and the judiciary. The same word must fill three blanks in the passage. The passage describes an administrative process where departments decide questions of a judicial or quasi judicial nature, hear parties, weigh evidence, and pronounce decisions. Your task is to identify the single word that fits all three blanks. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage talks about "administrative ______" as a new technique. It says this process involves hearing parties, sifting evidence, and making decisions on legal rights or duties. It contrasts "administrative ______" with the administration of justice by regular courts. The options are "Adjudication", "Division", "Hearing", and "Service". Concept / Approach: When an authority hears evidence and decides legal rights or duties, it is engaging in adjudication. "Adjudication" is a legal term that refers to the formal judgment or decision making process, often done by a judge or a tribunal. The phrase "administrative adjudication" is commonly used to describe judicial like decisions made by administrative agencies. None of the other options captures this technical meaning in all positions of the passage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Insert "Adjudication" into the first blank: "Administrative adjudication is the latest addition to the administrative techniques." This is a standard phrase in public administration. Step 2: Insert "Adjudication" into the second blank: "Administrative adjudication means the determination of questions of a judicial or quasi judicial nature by an administrative department or agency." This matches the definition of adjudication. Step 3: Insert "Adjudication" into the third blank: "The main point of difference between administrative adjudication and administration of justice by the courts is that administrative justice is administered by administrative agencies instead of regular courts." This contrast is exactly how textbooks explain the term. Step 4: Test "Division" in all three positions. "Administrative division" can refer to organisational units but does not describe judicial decision making. Step 5: Test "Hearing" and "Service". "Administrative hearing" can be used in some places, but the phrase "modern public administration has taken a leaf from the judiciary, administrative hearing is the latest addition" is not idiomatic, and the final contrast with administration of justice is usually framed in terms of adjudication, not hearing. Step 6: Conclude that "Adjudication" is the only word that fits all three blanks naturally and precisely. Verification / Alternative check: You can check standard public administration and constitutional law texts, where the phrase "administrative adjudication" is widely used. It refers to decision making by administrative agencies that resembles court procedures but is carried out by the executive branch. No other term among the options is as closely associated with this concept. "Division" and "service" are too general, and while "hearing" describes a part of the process, it does not encompass the entire determination of legal rights and duties, which is what the passage describes. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Division" is wrong because it refers to organisational units or the act of dividing, not to judicial style decision making. "Hearing" is part of adjudication but does not cover the final judgment aspect; it would not fit well in all three blanks, especially where the passage refers to a technique added to administrative methods. "Service" is unrelated in meaning to judicial determination and therefore cannot complete the passage meaningfully. Common Pitfalls: A common error is to be misled by the word "hearing", which does appear in the passage when describing how administrative bodies operate. However, the passage distinguishes the overall process of adjudication from individual steps like hearings. Students may also think of "division" because public administration often has divisional structures, but the context here is clearly legal, focusing on judgments and legal rights. Always read the entire passage and ensure that the chosen word fits every blank logically and idiomatically. Final Answer: The single word that correctly fills all three blanks is Adjudication.

Question 4

In the passage about human ability to change the landscape and question our role in nature, choose the single verb that can correctly fill all three blanks.

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Introduction / Context: This passage based question discusses the human ability to change the environment and the ethical questions that arise from that power. The same verb must fill three blanks: the ability of humans to ______ the landscape, animals that have extensions to ______ their environment, and whether humans have the right to ______ the land, factory farm animals, and pollute waterways. The original options are not suitable verbs, so applying the recovery first policy, we infer a more appropriate verb that logically fits all three contexts. Given Data / Assumptions: The first blank describes humans ability to modify or change the landscape. The second blank refers to animals having extensions to modify their environment. The third blank asks whether humans have the right to modify the land, factory farm animals, and pollute waterways. All three blanks clearly expect a verb with the meaning "change" or "modify". The provided options are nouns or verbs that do not fit grammatically or semantically in all three places. Concept / Approach: The most natural verb to use in all three blanks is "alter", which means to change or modify something. We can say humans alter the landscape, animals have tools to alter their environment, and we question whether humans have the right to alter the land and ecosystems. This word maintains a consistent meaning across all uses and captures the moral dimension of changing nature that the passage is concerned with. Therefore, we reconstruct the options by identifying "alter" as the correct verb required by the passage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Insert "alter" into the first blank: "The ability of humans to alter the landscape and recognize the consequences of doing so puts us in a peculiar position." This reads naturally and accurately describes human influence on nature. Step 2: Insert "alter" into the second blank: "Some animals have extensions to alter their environment and some do not." This fits well, as animals such as beavers or birds use tools or structures to alter their surroundings. Step 3: Insert "alter" into the third blank: "Do we have the right to alter the land, factory farm animals, and pollute waterways?" This also makes sense, linking the physical changes humans impose on land and living beings with ethical questions. Step 4: Compare the sense across all three uses. The verb "alter" consistently carries the idea of making changes to nature, which is exactly what the passage is exploring. Step 5: Recognise that the originally listed answer choices do not provide a suitable verb that fits all three blanks, so we apply the recovery first policy and supply the correct verb "alter" as the intended answer. Verification / Alternative check: You can test a few alternative verbs such as "change" or "modify". Both can fit grammatically, but "alter" is slightly more formal and commonly used in environmental ethics discussions. For example, environmental literature often speaks of humans altering ecosystems. Using "alter" keeps the style consistent and precise. The reconstructed sentence with "alter" flows smoothly and maintains the intended meaning without distortion, showing that it is the most appropriate choice for all three blanks. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Aspects" and "pollutants" are nouns and cannot be used directly as verbs in the given positions. "Employ" and "operate" are verbs, but they do not fit all contexts. "Employ the landscape" and "operate the land" sound unnatural and do not clearly express the idea of changing the environment. "Operate animals" is also incorrect. None of these alternatives expresses the moral and physical act of changing natural systems as accurately as "alter". Common Pitfalls: One common difficulty in such questions is assuming that at least one of the printed options must be correct even when they all look wrong. In practice, databases can contain mis keyed options or missing words. When that happens, you should fall back on the meaning dictated by the passage and choose or reconstruct the word that makes the most sense. Keeping a strong sense of context and grammar helps you to identify when a verb is required and what general meaning it should carry. Here, the expressed idea of humans changing nature guides you naturally to the verb "alter". Final Answer: The verb that correctly fills all three blanks in the passage is alter.

Question 5

A passage with three blanks is given below, followed by options containing a single word. Choose the one word that can correctly fill all the three blanks.   Emission ______ are the legal requirements governing air pollutants released into the atmos…

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Introduction / Context: This question is a vocabulary and reading comprehension item based on a short passage about environmental regulation. The passage contains three blanks, and you must choose a single word that fits naturally in all three positions. The text discusses legal requirements related to air pollution, so you need to focus on collocations (usual word combinations) used in environmental law and policy, rather than only on isolated dictionary meanings. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage talks about legal requirements governing air pollutants. The first blank refers to a set of legal requirements that control emissions. The second blank refers to something that sets quantitative limits on emissions. The third blank refers to many such sets that focus on different pollution sources, such as automobiles and industry. The options given are: Norms, Pollutants, Factors, Standards. Concept / Approach: In environmental law and policy, the most common phrase is "emission standards". These standards are specific numeric limits set by authorities to control how much of a certain pollutant can be released from a given source. The word "standards" can logically represent a set of quantitative limits and is widely used in official documents. "Norms" is also sometimes used informally, but "emission norms" does not fit as smoothly in all three places and is less universal. "Pollutants" and "factors" do not describe legal requirements; instead, they describe what is being controlled (pollutants) or influences on a process (factors). Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Insert "standards" in the first blank: "Emission standards are the legal requirements governing air pollutants released into the atmosphere." This is a known formal phrase and reads correctly.Step 2: Insert "standards" in the second blank: "Emission standards set quantitative limits on the permissible amount of specific air pollutants." This matches the idea that a standard gives a numeric limit.Step 3: Insert "standards" in the third blank: "Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles." Again, this is natural and reflects real regulatory practice.Step 4: Test the other options in each blank. "Emission norms" is somewhat acceptable in the first use, but "Emission norms set quantitative limits" is less typical than "standards", and "Many emissions norms focus" sounds awkward and less standardised in formal English.Step 5: Confirm that "pollutants" and "factors" cannot describe legal requirements, so they fail in the first blank itself. Verification / Alternative check: Think about real world phrases you see in news articles and government documents: "Euro emission standards", "Bharat Stage emission standards", "vehicle emission standards". These are all standard usage. It is very rare to see "emission factors" used in this context (that phrase refers to coefficients used in calculations, not legal rules), and "emission pollutants" is grammatically wrong. Thus, "standards" is the only option that preserves both grammar and common usage in all three positions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Norms" can sometimes mean accepted rules, but "emission norms are the legal requirements" is less precise and less formal than "standards", and the phrase "emissions norms focus on regulating pollutants" is not the standard collocation in technical English. "Pollutants" names the harmful substances themselves, which clearly cannot be "legal requirements". "Factors" refers to influences or elements in a calculation, not to official limits imposed by law, so it does not fit any position. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose "norms" because it is often used in everyday speech about rules. However, exam questions like this usually prefer the technically precise term that matches real policy language, which is "standards". Another mistake is to evaluate only the first blank and ignore the requirement that the same word must fit all three places. Always test the chosen word in every blank before deciding. Final Answer: The word that correctly completes all three blanks is Standards, so option D is correct.

Question 6

A passage with three blanks is given below, followed by options containing a single word. Choose the one word that can correctly fill all the three blanks.   In finance, a ________ is an instrument of indebtedness of the issuer to the holders. The _…

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Introduction / Context: This passage tests your understanding of basic financial terminology. You are given a definition of a financial instrument described as an instrument of indebtedness, a debt security that pays interest and repays principal at maturity. A single word must fit all three blanks without changing the intended meaning. Recognising standard finance vocabulary is essential to solving this type of question. Given Data / Assumptions: The instrument represents indebtedness of an issuer to holders. It is a debt security, not ownership of the company. The issuer pays interest (coupon) and repays principal at maturity. The instrument can often be traded in a secondary market. The options are: Brand, Stock, Bond, Barter. Concept / Approach: In finance, a "bond" is exactly a debt instrument issued by governments, companies or other entities. A bondholder lends money to the issuer, who promises to pay regular interest and return the principal on a specified date. "Stock" instead represents ownership (equity) in a company, not a debt. "Brand" relates to marketing identity, and "barter" is the direct exchange of goods and services without money. Therefore, "bond" is the only word that fits the technical description in every occurrence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Insert "bond" into the first blank: "In finance, a bond is an instrument of indebtedness of the issuer to the holders." This exactly matches textbook definitions.Step 2: Insert "bond" into the second blank: "The bond is a debt security under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to pay them interest or to repay the principal at maturity." This again is accurate financial language.Step 3: Insert "bond" into the third blank: "Thus, a bond is a form of loan or IOU." This is a standard way of explaining bonds to beginners.Step 4: Test "stock" in the blanks. A stock is not primarily described as an instrument of indebtedness but as a share of ownership, so the definition would become wrong.Step 5: Test "brand" and "barter". Neither can be reasonably described as a debt security paying coupons and principal, so they fail immediately. Verification / Alternative check: If you know basic differences between financial instruments, you can double check. A bondholder is a creditor; a shareholder (stockholder) is an owner. Only the creditor relationship involves fixed interest and contractual repayment of principal at maturity. The passage clearly describes a creditor relationship, not an ownership claim, so "bond" is the only fitting term. The final sentence, calling the instrument a form of loan or IOU, further confirms this, as that phrase is commonly used when teaching about bonds. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Brand" is about corporate identity, logos and names, and has nothing to do with debt or repayment. "Stock" would imply variable dividends and ownership rights rather than fixed coupons and a maturity date, so it misrepresents the described instrument. "Barter" is a system of exchange without money, unrelated to formal debt securities. None of them can replace "bond" without contradicting core parts of the passage. Common Pitfalls: Students who are not comfortable with financial terms may confuse "bond" and "stock" because both are commonly traded in markets. The key is to remember that bonds usually involve fixed interest and repayment dates, while stocks represent ownership and do not have a maturity date. Keeping this distinction in mind helps with many finance related questions. Final Answer: The single word that correctly completes all three blanks is Bond, so option C is correct.

Question 7

A passage with three blanks is given below, followed by options containing a single word. Choose the one word that can correctly fill all the three blanks.   An _________ is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for b…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests both vocabulary knowledge and the ability to read for meaning. The passage discusses a process of buying and selling with bidding, references a Dutch variant of this process, and finally links it to economic theory. You must find a single term that fits all three blanks and matches the real world and theoretical descriptions. Given Data / Assumptions: The process involves bidding and selling to the highest bidder. A Dutch version of this process starts with a high price that is gradually lowered. In economics, the term can refer to a mechanism or set of trading rules. Options: Assets, Auction, Autarky, Arbitrage. Concept / Approach: An "auction" is the well known process of selling goods by receiving bids from buyers and awarding the item to the highest bid. A "Dutch auction" specifically starts with a high price and lowers it until a buyer accepts. In economic theory, auction models describe different mechanisms for allocating goods among bidders. The other options do not describe a bidding process. "Assets" are items of value, "autarky" is economic self sufficiency, and "arbitrage" is exploiting price differences across markets. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Fill the first blank with "auction": "An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid and selling the item to the highest bidder." This is a direct textbook style definition.Step 2: Fill the second blank in "Dutch auction". This is a recognised term where the auctioneer lowers the price until someone accepts it. None of the other options form such a known phrase.Step 3: Fill the third blank: "In economic theory, an auction may refer to any mechanism or set of trading rules for exchange." This is again consistent with the use of "auction" in game theory and microeconomics.Step 4: Test "assets" in the blanks. "An assets is a process" is grammatically wrong and conceptually meaningless. "Dutch assets" is not a recognised term, and assets are the goods, not the mechanism.Step 5: Test "autarky" and "arbitrage". Neither of them involves an auctioneer lowering or raising prices according to bids. Therefore, they fail the description of both the basic and Dutch versions. Verification / Alternative check: Recall standard phrases: "English auction", "Dutch auction", "sealed bid auction", "online auction". These all share the same root word and describe different rule sets for bidding. The passage explicitly defines this concept both in lay language and in the language of economic theory, which matches well known topics like auction theory in economics. This makes "auction" the only viable choice. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Assets" are things that can be sold at an auction; they are not the process itself. "Autarky" refers to a situation where a country or region aims for economic independence and does not rely on trade; it is unrelated to bidding procedures. "Arbitrage" involves buying and selling in different markets to profit from price differences, but there is no auctioneer or bidding process in its basic definition. Common Pitfalls: Because some options are technical economic terms, candidates may be tempted to choose them without reading the passage closely. The key to such questions is to match not just one sentence but the entire description, including the mention of Dutch variants and the broader theoretical use. Only "auction" satisfies all of these conditions. Final Answer: The single word that correctly completes all three blanks is Auction, so option B is correct.

Question 8

In the following question, three short paragraphs about personal finance are given in jumbled order. Find the correct sequence of the paragraphs so that they form a coherent passage about the power of compounding and the importance of starting inves…

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Introduction / Context: This is a paragraph rearrangement question. You are given three labelled paragraphs A, B and C that all deal with the topic of savings, investing, and the power of compounding. Your task is to decide in which order they should appear to form a clear, logical and persuasive passage. The paragraphs each focus on different aspects of the same theme: the need to start investing early, how compounding works, and numerical examples comparing early and late investing. Given Data / Assumptions: Paragraph C introduces the idea that adult life requires early saving and investing, and mentions the “magic of compounding”. Paragraph A explains how compounding works through a simple example with ₹100 and a 10 percent return. Paragraph B provides detailed numbers comparing starting at age 25 with ₹3,000 per month versus starting at age 35 with ₹6,000 per month. The options give different orders of these three paragraphs: BAC, CAB, BCA, ABC. Concept / Approach: A coherent explanation usually begins with a general motivation or question, then explains the underlying concept, and finally offers numerical evidence or illustration. Here, C acts as the hook and motivation, asking why one should not delay investing and introducing compounding. A then clarifies how compounding actually works, using a simple year by year example. B finally gives a more detailed and realistic scenario with monthly investments and ages to demonstrate the long term benefit of starting early. Therefore, the most natural order is C (introduction and motivation), A (concept explanation), B (numerical illustration). Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read paragraph C. It opens with "Adulting cannot wait when it comes to savings and investing" and asks "Why you may ask?". This is clearly an introductory and motivational paragraph.Step 2: Notice that C introduces the "magic of compounding" but does not explain how compounding actually works. That explanation is promised but not yet given.Step 3: Read paragraph A. It immediately explains the power of compounding through a simple example with ₹100 and a 10 percent return, and how reinvesting interest makes money grow faster. This naturally follows the introduction in C.Step 4: Read paragraph B. It starts with "To get a perspective, let us turn to some numbers", then compares starting at age 25 versus 35 with different monthly contributions. This sounds like a deeper illustration after the concept is clear.Step 5: Put them together: C (why you should start early and what compounding is), A (how compounding works in principle), B (detailed numerical comparison). This order is CAB, which is listed as option B. Verification / Alternative check: Test another option, for example ABC. If you start with A, the passage would open with a technical explanation about reinvesting ₹100. There is no introductory context about why the reader should care. Ending with C would then suddenly jump back to general advice about adulting and starting early, which feels like a delayed introduction rather than a conclusion. Similarly, BAC would start with detailed numbers (B) before the concept is even defined, confusing readers who have not yet been told what compounding is. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Any sequence that does not begin with C ignores the fact that C poses the central question and introduces the main concept and motivation. Placing B before A (as in BCA) forces the reader to read complex numbers before they understand compounding, which breaks logical flow. Ending with C leaves the passage without a strong numerical conclusion, while ending with B draws the reader to a practical takeaway. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates are tempted to start with the paragraph that contains numbers, thinking that concrete details always come first. However, good expository writing usually introduces the topic and concept before diving into numerical detail. A useful strategy is to look for introductory signals like questions ("Why you may ask?") and phrases like "To get a perspective", which often indicate transitions rather than openings. Final Answer: The correct logical order of the paragraphs is C A B, so option B (CAB) is correct.

Question 9

In the following question, three short paragraphs about climate change, land–sea warming contrast and aerosols are given in jumbled order. Find the correct sequence of these paragraphs so that they form a meaningful passage about how faster land war…

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Introduction / Context: This paragraph rearrangement question deals with a scientific topic: climate change, land and ocean warming, and atmospheric aerosols. You are given three paragraphs labelled A, B and C, each containing part of a research description. Your task is to arrange them into a coherent mini-article that introduces the study, explains the underlying concept, and describes the method and results. Given Data / Assumptions: Paragraph A introduces a new study from the University of California, Riverside, mentions a publication date, names the journal, and briefly explains that the land–sea warming contrast drives increased aerosols that harm air quality. Paragraph C explains a general principle: land warms faster than ocean when greenhouse gases increase, and this enhanced land warming is associated with aridity, reduced clouds and less rain. Paragraph B describes how researchers ran climate change simulations under two scenarios: a business-as-usual warming model and another with less land warming, and explains that enhanced land warming increases aridity and aerosol concentrations. Options list possible orders such as ACB, BCA, BAC and CAB. Concept / Approach: A logical scientific passage usually begins with an introduction to the study (who did it, where it was published, and the main finding), then moves to the underlying physical principle, and finally explains the methodology or scenarios used to reach the conclusion. Paragraph A clearly plays the role of an introduction. Paragraph C describes the robust response of land warming faster than oceans, which is the physical basis. Paragraph B then gives details of the simulation scenarios and connects enhanced land warming to aerosol increases. Therefore, the natural order is A (study overview), C (principle), B (simulation details and implications). Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read paragraph A. It names the institution, journal, date and key result. This is typical of an opening paragraph in a science news article.Step 2: Recognise that after stating the main result, a good passage will explain the mechanism behind it. Paragraph C provides the mechanism: land warms faster than ocean and becomes more arid, causing changes in clouds and rainfall.Step 3: Read paragraph B. It begins with "To determine this, the researchers ran simulations of climate change under two scenarios." The phrase "To determine this" refers back to the previously mentioned effect, which is best captured by paragraph C and the core study described in A.Step 4: Combine A then C then B: A introduces the study and problem, C elaborates the physical response of land and ocean, and B describes how the researchers tested the effect using models.Step 5: Compare this order with the options and note that it corresponds to ACB, which is option A. Verification / Alternative check: Try starting with C. That paragraph begins with "A robust response to an increase in greenhouse gases is that the land is going to warm faster than the ocean." While this is a valid statement, it lacks context about why it is being discussed and which specific study is involved. If you then move to A, the text suddenly jumps to a new study without smoothly linking back. Starting with B is even less suitable, because "To determine this" appears in the first sentence with no prior clear referent. Only by placing A first, then C, then B does each paragraph refer back appropriately to something already stated. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option BCA begins with B and leaves the reader wondering what "this" refers to. Option BAC places B before A, which destroys the logical reference chain. Option CAB starts with a general principle in C and then jumps to A, but B, which depends on "this", is left at the end in an awkward position. Only ACB ensures that each pronoun and phrase such as "To determine this" has a clear antecedent. Common Pitfalls: Candidates sometimes pay attention only to the scientific content rather than to linking phrases like "To determine this" or "The study". These linking expressions are strong clues for sequencing. A good strategy is to identify which paragraph introduces the topic, which one explains mechanisms, and which one describes methods or results, then arrange them in that logical scientific order. Final Answer: The coherent and logically connected order of paragraphs is A C B, so option A (ACB) is correct.

Question 10

In the following passage, one sentence is missing and has been replaced by a blank. Choose the option that best completes the passage. The passage discusses the morality and legality of nuclear weapons and the responsibility of scientists who work o…

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Introduction / Context: This question is about paragraph coherence and logical flow. The passage deals with the moral and legal objections to nuclear weapons, and then moves towards the responsibility of scientists who help create them. One sentence has been removed and replaced with a blank. You must choose the sentence that fits logically and smoothly into the argument, strengthening the author's case about the misuse of scientific expertise. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage states that using and producing nuclear weapons is contrary to morality and law. It argues that adding legal objections to moral ones reinforces the case against nuclear weapons. It then says that the time is ripe to evaluate the responsibility of scientists who knowingly use their expertise to construct such weapons. It finishes by questioning whether such valuable skill should be devoted to manufacturing weapons of death in a world of poverty. The missing sentence must connect the discussion of moral and legal objections with the focus on scientists and their role. Concept / Approach: The best missing sentence should introduce a factual or quantitative element that emphasises how much scientific talent is being absorbed by the armaments industry. This data based assertion provides a strong reason to examine scientists' responsibility and the ethical use of resources. Option A offers exactly such a factual statement about the proportion of skilled scientific manpower engaged in armaments. The other options are more emotional or repetitive and do not serve as an effective bridge between the legal–moral discussion and the call to evaluate responsibility. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read the sentences before the blank. They explain that nuclear weapons are contrary to morality and law, and that combining legal and moral objections reinforces the argument against them.Step 2: Read the sentences after the blank. They say that now is the right time to evaluate the responsibility of scientists who use their expertise to build such weapons and then question whether this skill should be used to create weapons in a poor world.Step 3: Identify what kind of idea would link these two parts. A natural link is a statement showing that a huge amount of scientific talent is involved in arms production, making the moral and legal issue more urgent.Step 4: Examine option A: "Almost 50% of the skilled scientific manpower in the world is now engaged in the armaments industry." This gives a striking statistic and naturally leads to the next sentence about evaluating the responsibility of scientists.Step 5: Check the remaining options and see that they either repeat the idea of conscience (option C), express vague hurt (option B), or attack selfish people in general terms (option D), without adding the same concrete, bridging force as option A. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option A explicitly into the passage and read it through. The sequence becomes: moral and legal objections to nuclear weapons, a statistic about half of the world's scientific manpower working in armaments, followed by a call to evaluate scientists' responsibility. This reads smoothly and increases the weight of the argument. Inserting option C would make the passage repeat the idea of conscience just before another sentence about conscience, creating redundancy instead of development. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option B is emotionally worded but does not provide a strong logical bridge or new information. Option C preaches what scientists should do, but the next sentence already discusses evaluating their responsibility, so it becomes repetitive rather than additive. Option D shifts focus to "selfish and careless people" who want to threaten humankind, which diverts attention from scientists themselves and does not connect as tightly with the legal–moral discussion. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes pick the sentence that sounds most emotionally charged or morally strong. However, coherence questions are about which sentence moves the argument forward in a structured way. A good strategy is to look for the sentence that introduces a new, relevant dimension (here, a numerical estimate of manpower) and naturally leads into both what was said before and what comes after. Final Answer: The sentence that best completes and strengthens the passage is "Almost 50% of the skilled scientific manpower in the world is now engaged in the armaments industry.", so option A is correct.

Question 11

Read the following short passage about Indians working overseas. Then choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph in a logical and coherent way.

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Introduction / Context: The paragraph provided in the question talks about the experience of working overseas as an Indian professional. It mentions that Indians are seen as intelligent, hardworking, talented and spiritual, and that working abroad is challenging because it requires constant professionalism and high standards. One more sentence is needed to sum up or reinforce this idea. You must pick the option that logically and stylistically completes the paragraph. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage notes that working overseas is a challenge for any professional. It highlights that Indians are considered intelligent, hardworking, talented and spiritual. It explains that securing a job abroad is only the first step and that retaining it requires constant professionalism and maintaining standards of competence. The missing sentence should logically follow these points and provide a concise concluding statement. Concept / Approach: A good concluding sentence will usually summarise or reinforce the key qualities discussed and relate them to the core theme. The passage emphasises Indian professionals' perceived strengths and the need to live up to those expectations. Option D states clearly that Indians are hard working, competitive and professional employees, which echoes the earlier qualities and links directly to the requirement of professionalism. The other options either introduce minor wording issues or do not fully match the tone and focus of the passage. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the main ideas in the passage: reputation of Indians abroad, the challenge of working overseas, and the need to match high standards of competence.Step 2: Recognise that the final sentence should affirm that Indians can meet these challenges by highlighting their qualities as employees.Step 3: Read option D: "Indians are hard-working, competitive and professional employees." This summarises the positive attributes that help Indians succeed abroad and links back to professionalism mentioned earlier.Step 4: Compare option A: "Indians have always excelled in a competitive working environment." While positive, it focuses only on competitive environments and sounds slightly broader than the passage, which is specifically about overseas jobs and professional standards.Step 5: Consider option C, which is similar to A but grammatically weaker ("tried to bring out their best") and less confident. Option B talks about enjoyable company, which shifts emphasis from professional competence to social traits, which is not the main theme. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option D at the end and read the paragraph as a whole. The paragraph begins by describing the challenge, then mentions the strong reputation of Indians, then stresses the need for constant professionalism, and finally affirms that Indians are indeed hardworking, competitive and professional employees. This gives a complete and balanced impression. Inserting option A or C leaves the paragraph slightly unanchored in terms of professionalism, and option B introduces a new, off topic idea about being enjoyable company. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A is not entirely wrong but is less precise as a conclusion because it does not directly mention professionalism, which is central in the previous sentence. Option C is weaker in tone and style and has a slightly awkward structure, making it less suitable for a final statement. Option B shifts focus from professional performance to social likeability, which is not what the passage emphasises. Common Pitfalls: In completion questions, it is easy to choose any positive sounding sentence that mentions the same group (here, Indians). However, the best choice is the one that closely follows the exact theme of the preceding lines. A useful strategy is to underline key words in the paragraph (such as "professionalism", "competence" and "hardworking") and look for the option that directly reflects those ideas. Final Answer: The sentence that best completes the paragraph is "Indians are hard-working, competitive and professional employees.", so option D is correct.

Question 12

Choose the option that best captures the essence of the text. The passage explains how banks issue money in the form of banknotes and current accounts, act as collection and paying agents, participate in interbank clearing and settlement systems, an…

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Introduction / Context: This question asks you to complete a passage about how banks operate as payment intermediaries. The passage explains that banks issue money in the form of banknotes and deposits, act as collection and paying agents, and participate in clearing and settlement systems. It then states that these activities allow banks to economise on reserves because inward and outward payments offset each other. The final sentence begins "It also enables..." and you must choose the best completion from the options given. Given Data / Assumptions: The text explains that banks can offset payment flows so they do not need to hold large reserves for each individual payment. It mentions clearing and settlement systems in which banks exchange payment instruments. The phrase "It also enables ..." must logically introduce an additional benefit connected with offsetting payment flows. The options differ in whether they mention geographical areas, whether the flows are offset, and whether settlement costs increase or decrease. Concept / Approach: When banks offset payment flows, they reduce the net amount that needs to be settled in central bank money or reserves. This reduces, rather than increases, the cost of settlement. The passage already states that banks economise on reserves because inward and outward payments offset. Extending that idea across geographical areas, such as between different regions or countries, naturally leads to lower settlement costs between those areas as well. Therefore, the correct completion should mention offsetting payment flows between geographical areas and reducing settlement costs. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Note that the previous sentence states "This enables banks to economise on reserves ... since inward and outward payments offset each other." The phrase "It also enables" must introduce another beneficial effect of offsetting.Step 2: Consider what happens when payments flow between different regions. If banks arrange clearing systems so that payments going in both directions are netted off, only the small net difference has to be settled, which reduces cost.Step 3: Examine option B: "The offsetting of payment flows between geographical areas, reducing the cost of settlement between them." This directly describes the additional benefit and matches the positive, cost saving theme of the passage.Step 4: Examine option A, which is similar but says "increasing the cost of settlement". That contradicts the previous sentence, which showed how offsetting economises on reserves and therefore lowers costs.Step 5: Examine options C and D. Both restrict the effect to only urban or only rural areas, which the passage never mentions. They introduce unnecessary and unsupported limitations and, in the case of D, again say "increasing the cost", which clashes with the logic of offsetting. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option B into the passage and read it fully: it now says that banks economise on reserves because inward and outward payments offset, and that this also enables the offsetting of payment flows between geographical areas, reducing settlement costs. This is coherent and reflects how real world clearing and settlement systems, such as interbank networks, operate. Replacing it with option A would make the passage self contradictory, because something that economises on reserves should not increase costs at the same time. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A reverses the expected effect, claiming higher costs where the passage clearly describes a cost saving mechanism. Option C and option D introduce urban versus rural distinctions not mentioned anywhere in the text, so they go beyond the given information and weaken the coherence of the passage. Additionally, they do not capture the general macro level benefit across all geographical areas that the passage implies. Common Pitfalls: Some learners focus on superficial similarities in wording and may choose option A because it matches the structure of option B. However, careful reading of the preceding sentences shows that the whole point of interbank clearing is to reduce the need for reserves and lower costs. A helpful strategy is to summarise each sentence in your own words before looking at the options, so you can quickly reject those that contradict the core idea. Final Answer: The completion that best fits the passage is "The offsetting of payment flows between geographical areas, reducing the cost of settlement between them.", so option B is correct.

Question 13

In the following sentence, some part of the sentence may contain an error. Identify the part that has an error, or select "No error" if the sentence is grammatically correct.   Sentence: I asked the shopkeeper, "Do you have change for a five hundred…

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Introduction / Context: This is an error spotting question focusing on correct use of number expressions with countable nouns and currency in English. The sentence describes a common situation in which someone asks for small denominations in exchange for a larger denomination banknote. You must identify which part of the sentence contains an error or decide that there is no error at all. Given Data / Assumptions: Part A: "I asked the shopkeeper" Part B: "\"Do you have change" Part C: "for a five hundred rupees note?\"" Part D: "No error" The full sentence is: "I asked the shopkeeper, \"Do you have change for a five hundred rupees note?\"" Concept / Approach: In English, when a numeral phrase is used directly before a singular countable noun such as "note" or "coin", the unit word (rupee, dollar, pound) normally appears in the singular form, even if the number is greater than one. For example, we say "a five hundred rupee note" or "a ten dollar note". The plural "rupees" would be used when the unit is not immediately followed by "note" or "coin", such as "five hundred rupees" in isolation. Hence the phrase "a five hundred rupees note" is grammatically incorrect, and it should be "a five hundred rupee note". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Check part A, "I asked the shopkeeper". This is a correct simple past clause and contains no error.Step 2: Check part B, "\"Do you have change". This is correct as part of direct speech. The phrase "do you have change" is grammatically fine.Step 3: Check part C, "for a five hundred rupees note?\"". Here, the phrase "five hundred rupees note" looks suspicious because of the plural "rupees" immediately followed by the singular "note".Step 4: Apply the rule for currency units before "note": we should say "a five hundred rupee note", similar to "a hundred dollar bill" or "a fifty pound note". Therefore, part C contains the error.Step 5: Since we have identified a clear grammatical error in part C, the correct answer cannot be "No error" (part D). Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: "I asked the shopkeeper, \"Do you have change for a five hundred rupee note?\"" Now compare this with other standard expressions: "a ten rupee coin", "a hundred rupee note", "a five hundred rupee note". All of them use the unit "rupee" in the singular right before the noun "coin" or "note". Using "rupees" here would sound unnatural to native speakers and is marked incorrect in exams. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part A is a simple, correct clause in the past tense. Part B is part of a correctly punctuated question in direct speech. There is nothing grammatically incorrect about either of them. Part D, "No error", is wrong because we have already identified the currency unit error in part C. Therefore, only part C can be chosen as the segment that needs correction. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes overgeneralise the rule that plural numbers require plural nouns and assume that "five hundred rupees note" must be correct because "five hundred rupees" is common. The key is to distinguish between "five hundred rupees" as an amount and "a five hundred rupee note" as a single object representing that amount. In the latter case, the currency unit functions as an adjective and stays in the singular form. Final Answer: The error is in part C, where "a five hundred rupees note" should be corrected to "a five hundred rupee note". Therefore, part C is the correct choice.

Question 14

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best one-word substitute for the given phrase: "things that have been discarded as worthless."

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Introduction / Context: This vocabulary question tests knowledge of specific English nouns that describe waste, wreckage or disorder. The phrase given is "things that have been discarded as worthless." You must choose the single word that best captures this meaning in a concise way, paying attention both to dictionary definitions and to typical usage in context. Given Data / Assumptions: Target phrase: things that have been discarded as worthless. Option A: remains. Option B: flotsam. Option C: shambles. Option D: havoc. We assume standard modern English usage and that the exam is testing common but slightly advanced vocabulary. Concept / Approach: The word "flotsam" originally referred to debris or wreckage found floating on the sea after a shipwreck, but it is also used figuratively to mean bits and pieces of things that are considered worthless or discarded. In contrast, "remains" usually refers to leftover parts of something (often neutral) or human remains, "shambles" describes a state of great disorder or mess, and "havoc" means widespread destruction or chaos. Among these, only "flotsam" directly focuses on discarded, valueless items. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the crucial idea in the phrase: items that have been thrown away because they are seen as worthless, not merely disordered or left over.Step 2: Examine "remains". This can mean what is left after the main part is taken, or it can refer to a dead body. It does not necessarily imply worthlessness or deliberate discarding, so it is too general.Step 3: Examine "flotsam". Traditionally, flotsam is floating wreckage after a ship disaster. In everyday language, it is also used metaphorically for fragments, odds and ends or junk that people have discarded.Step 4: Examine "shambles". This word refers to a place or situation that is in total disorder or ruin, such as "The room was a shambles." It describes a messy state, not specifically discarded objects.Step 5: Examine "havoc". "Havoc" is chaos, confusion or widespread damage. It does not refer to the physical discarded things but to the destructive effect itself. Therefore, "flotsam" comes closest to "discarded worthless things". Verification / Alternative check: Consider example sentences. "The beach was littered with plastic flotsam" clearly refers to scattered, unwanted debris. You can also read about "the flotsam and jetsam of city life", meaning people and possessions that seem discarded or unwanted. Using "remains" in those sentences would lose the sense of worthlessness, and "shambles" or "havoc" would change the meaning to "mess" or "destruction", not to things thrown away. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A, "remains", is too broad and often used in serious contexts like "human remains", not specifically "worthless junk". Option C, "shambles", talks about disorder rather than the items causing it. Option D, "havoc", focuses on destruction and chaos rather than the material objects that result from it. None of these words alone means "things that have been discarded as worthless". Common Pitfalls: Students may associate "shambles" and "havoc" with messy or broken situations and think they are close to garbage. However, the question asks specifically for "things" that have been discarded, not the chaos itself. It is important to distinguish between words that describe states (chaos, disorder) and those that label physical objects (wreckage, junk). "Flotsam" fits the latter category. Final Answer: The best one-word substitute for "things that have been discarded as worthless" is flotsam, so option B is correct.

Question 15

In the following sentence, some part of the sentence may contain an error. Identify the part that has an error, or select "No error" if the sentence is grammatically correct.   Sentence: Each boy was given a toy as a parting gift, which made them ha…

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Introduction / Context: This error spotting question tests correct agreement between singular and plural forms of pronouns, especially after the distributive determiner "each". The sentence describes individual boys each receiving a toy, and then describes who was made happy. You must identify if there is a grammatical mismatch in number or reference. Given Data / Assumptions: Part A: "Each boy was given" Part B: "a toy as a parting gift," Part C: "which made them happy." Part D: "No error" The full sentence is: "Each boy was given a toy as a parting gift, which made them happy." Concept / Approach: The word "each" is a distributive pronoun that takes a singular noun and a singular verb: "Each boy was given". Therefore, the natural pronoun to refer back to "each boy" in formal exam English is also singular, traditionally "him" or "him or her". Although modern informal English sometimes allows singular "they", competitive examinations typically expect strict agreement and avoid mixing "each" with "them" when referring back to individual boys. Here, "made them happy" suggests a plural referent, which conflicts with the distributive singular sense of "each". The clause should read "which made him happy" or be rephrased to keep consistent number. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Check part A, "Each boy was given". This is correct: "each" takes a singular noun "boy" and singular verb "was".Step 2: Check part B, "a toy as a parting gift,". This phrase correctly describes what was given and contains no obvious error in structure or meaning.Step 3: Check part C, "which made them happy." The relative pronoun "which" refers back to the entire situation of being given a toy. The pronoun "them" is plural, but the earlier subject is "each boy", conceptually singular.Step 4: Recognise that, in formal written English expected in many exams, the sentence should be "which made him happy" or rephrased as "and this made each of them happy". The current structure mixes singular and plural references.Step 5: Conclude that part C contains the error. Therefore, the correct answer is not "No error". Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: "Each boy was given a toy as a parting gift, which made him happy." Now the singular pronoun "him" clearly refers back to "each boy" taken one at a time. Another correct alternative would be: "All the boys were given toys as parting gifts, which made them happy." In that version, both "boys" and "them" are plural and agree in number. The original sentence mixes a singular distributive subject with a plural pronoun, which looks inconsistent in exam conditions. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part A uses the correct singular verb "was" after "Each boy", so there is no subject verb disagreement. Part B only adds details about the gift and is grammatically sound. Part D ("No error") is incorrect because an error has been identified in part C. Therefore, only part C can be chosen as the segment to improve. Common Pitfalls: In everyday spoken English, people increasingly use singular "they" and "them" to avoid gendered pronouns, even after "each". Some exam setters still follow more traditional grammar rules and do not accept that usage in error spotting questions. To be safe in competitive exams, it is wise to maintain strict number agreement: singular with singular and plural with plural, especially following words like "each", "every", "either" and "neither". Final Answer: The error is in part C, because "them" should be replaced with a singular pronoun to agree with "each boy". Hence, part C is the correct choice.

Question 16

In the following sentence, a blank is given. Select the most appropriate word from the options to complete the sentence meaningfully:   The ________ with which she manages the task is remarkable.

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Introduction / Context: This question tests your understanding of collocations in English, that is, words that commonly appear together. The sentence describes how someone manages a task and praises this quality as "remarkable". You must choose the noun that most naturally fits in the pattern "the ________ with which she manages the task". Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence structure is "The ________ with which she manages the task is remarkable." We are describing the manner or way in which the task is handled. Options: calm, comfort, ease, satisfaction. The resulting phrase should sound idiomatic, that is, like natural English used by competent speakers. Concept / Approach: A very common and natural expression in English is "the ease with which someone does something". It means that the person does the task effortlessly or without apparent difficulty. The noun "ease" fits perfectly in this slot. "Calm" is usually preceded by "with" in phrases like "with calm", but "the calm with which she manages the task" is less usual and focuses on emotional state rather than skill. "Comfort" and "satisfaction" both collocate poorly with "with which she manages the task" and refer to different concepts. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Consider what the sentence praises: not her feelings, but the manner of managing the task. It is about how effortlessly or smoothly she works.Step 2: Insert "ease": "The ease with which she manages the task is remarkable." This sounds completely natural and widely used in English.Step 3: Test "calm": "The calm with which she manages the task is remarkable." This is grammatically possible but less idiomatic. It shifts the focus towards her emotional calmness instead of the difficulty level of the task.Step 4: Test "comfort": "The comfort with which she manages the task" sounds awkward. We normally talk about being comfortable with something, not about "the comfort with which" we perform an action.Step 5: Test "satisfaction": "The satisfaction with which she manages the task" would refer to how satisfied she feels, not to the way she handles the task. This does not match the idea of something being "remarkable" in terms of skill or effortlessness. Verification / Alternative check: Think of similar sentences: "The ease with which he solved the puzzle surprised everyone", "The ease with which they adapted to the new rules was impressive." In all such cases, "ease" indicates that the action was not hard for the person. The same pattern fits perfectly here, reinforcing that "ease" is the right choice. Substituting "calm", "comfort" or "satisfaction" in these sentences would sound odd or distort the intended meaning. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Calm" emphasises emotional serenity rather than effortlessness; the sentence does not specifically discuss her emotions. "Comfort" usually refers to physical ease or lack of pain, or to emotional reassurance, not to the way a person performs a task. "Satisfaction" describes a feeling after the task is done, not the manner of doing it. None of these options matches the common collocation "the ease with which", which is what the structure strongly suggests. Common Pitfalls: Sometimes learners rely only on the positive tone of words and pick any that sound pleasant, such as "calm" or "satisfaction". However, English fluency depends greatly on choosing the right collocation. When a phrase like "the ________ with which" appears, it is useful to recall typical patterns: "the speed with which", "the ease with which", "the way in which". Remembering such patterns will help you answer many similar questions quickly. Final Answer: The most appropriate word to complete the sentence is ease, so option C is correct.

Question 17

In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the one that best expresses the same meaning in Indirect speech.   Direct speech: The preacher said, "May God grant peace to the departed!"

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Introduction / Context: This reported speech question involves an optative sentence, that is, a sentence expressing a wish or prayer. The direct speech uses "May God grant peace to the departed!", a common form of prayer. When converting such sentences into Indirect speech, we need to pay attention to the reporting verb, tense changes, and how to express the wish correctly in a reported form. Given Data / Assumptions: Direct sentence: "The preacher said, \"May God grant peace to the departed!\"" The reporting verb is "said" in the simple past. The original sentence is not a statement or question but a prayer or wish addressed to God. The options offer different choices of reporting verb ("said", "prays", "prayed") and different tense and structure in the subordinate clause. Concept / Approach: For sentences beginning with "May ..." expressing a wish or prayer, the reporting verb in Indirect speech is usually changed to "prayed", "wished" or "hoped" depending on context. Because the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, we typically use "prayed" in the past and backshift "may" to "would" in the reported clause. The structure "that God would grant peace to the departed" correctly expresses a reported prayer. Therefore, the best Indirect speech is "The preacher prayed that God would grant peace to the departed." Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the nature of the original sentence: it is a prayer, not a simple statement. Thus, the reporting verb "said" should change to "prayed" in Indirect speech.Step 2: Keep the subject "The preacher" and move the reporting clause to the beginning: "The preacher prayed that ..."Step 3: Transform "May God grant peace to the departed" into a subordinate clause. The typical backshift is from "may" to "would", giving "that God would grant peace to the departed."Step 4: Combine the parts: "The preacher prayed that God would grant peace to the departed." This corresponds exactly to option B.Step 5: Check other options to ensure they are incorrect in tense or structure. Verification / Alternative check: Examine option A: "The preacher prays that God will grant peace to the departed." This uses the present tense "prays" and "will", which would only be correct if the reporting verb in the original sentence were in the present tense, not "said". The exam expects backshifting to past forms. Option C, "The preacher said that God may grant peace to the departed", keeps "said" but fails to convert "may" appropriately and loses the sense of prayer, sounding more like a statement about possibility. Option D is grammatically incomplete because it omits "that" and keeps "may" in a direct way, which is not proper reported speech. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A incorrectly changes the time reference to the present ("prays"), ignoring the past reporting verb. Option C retains "may", which normally backshifts to "might" or "would" when reported from the past, and does not clearly express a prayer. Option D breaks standard reported speech structure and would need quotation marks or an additional word to be correct. None of these capture both the optative nature and the correct tense sequence as well as option B does. Common Pitfalls: Candidates often forget that sentences beginning with "May..." expressing wishes follow slightly different reporting rules from ordinary statements. They may also be tempted to keep "may" unchanged. In exam settings, however, it is safer to follow the conventional pattern: change "said" to "prayed" (or "wished") for a prayer and shift "may" to "would" in the reported clause. Remembering these patterns will help with many similar items in reported speech. Final Answer: The correct Indirect speech is "The preacher prayed that God would grant peace to the departed.", so option B is correct.

Question 18

Rearrange the parts of the sentence in the correct order to form a meaningful statement.   Fixed part: Today, however, when one in four rural Indians   P: in identifying the poor are far greater   Q: is poor, our chances of being wrong   R: and one …

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Introduction / Context: This is a sentence rearrangement question at the level of clauses and phrase segments. You are given a fixed opening and three labelled parts P, Q and R that must be ordered to form a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence about poverty in rural and urban India. Your goal is to identify the sequence that yields a natural flow of ideas and correct English structure. Given Data / Assumptions: Fixed start: "Today, however, when one in four rural Indians" P: "in identifying the poor are far greater" Q: "is poor, our chances of being wrong" R: "and one in six urban Indians" The sentence should talk about proportions of poor people in rural and urban areas and then comment on the chances of being wrong in identifying the poor. Concept / Approach: The fixed opening introduces the rural statistic: "when one in four rural Indians". The next logical step is to add the urban statistic using "and one in six urban Indians". After both proportions are mentioned, the main clause should state "is poor, our chances of being wrong in identifying the poor are far greater." So the correct order of the segments after the fixed part is R (and one in six urban Indians), then Q (is poor, our chances of being wrong), then P (in identifying the poor are far greater). This gives a complete, meaningful sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Attach R after the fixed part: "Today, however, when one in four rural Indians and one in six urban Indians". Now we have a complete reference to both rural and urban categories.Step 2: Now we need a verb to complete the subordinate clause introduced by "when". Q begins with "is poor, our chances of being wrong", so we get "Today, however, when one in four rural Indians and one in six urban Indians is poor, our chances of being wrong ..."Step 3: The phrase "our chances of being wrong" requires a complement explaining in what respect we might be wrong. P, "in identifying the poor are far greater", supplies that complement and also completes the main clause with the verb phrase "are far greater."Step 4: Combining all parts, we obtain: "Today, however, when one in four rural Indians and one in six urban Indians is poor, our chances of being wrong in identifying the poor are far greater."Step 5: This ordering corresponds to RQP, which is given as option B. Verification / Alternative check: Test another option, such as QRP. That would yield "Today, however, when one in four rural Indians is poor, our chances of being wrong and one in six urban Indians in identifying the poor are far greater," which is clearly ungrammatical and confuses the role of the clause about urban Indians. Similarly, PRQ would begin with "in identifying the poor are far greater" immediately after the fixed start, leaving "one in four rural Indians" without a verb. Only RQP gives a smooth reading with correct clause structure. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Options that start with P after the fixed part misplace the phrase "in identifying the poor", making it appear before we have a complete main clause. Options that place R after Q interrupt the flow between "is poor" and the main clause "our chances of being wrong in identifying the poor are far greater", producing awkward or incorrect syntax. Only RQP respects both the logical order of information (rural statistic, urban statistic, conclusion) and the grammatical structure. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates may focus on the closeness of "our chances of being wrong" and "are far greater" and attempt to keep Q and P together while moving R to the end. However, the phrase "and one in six urban Indians" must immediately follow the earlier statistic about rural Indians, or else it gets disconnected. A useful technique is to first link numeric comparisons ("one in four" and "one in six") and only then fit in the evaluative clause that comments on those numbers. Final Answer: The correct sequence of parts after the fixed beginning is R Q P, so option B (RQP) is correct.

Question 19

Improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the best alternative. If no improvement is required, select "No improvement".   Sentence: Fans (queue) for the concert tickets since early morning.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This sentence improvement question tests your understanding of tense and aspect, especially the present perfect continuous tense used for actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. The sentence describes fans lining up for concert tickets "since early morning", which clearly signals a continuous action from a specific point in the past until now. You must choose the verb form that best expresses this idea. Given Data / Assumptions: Original sentence: "Fans (queue) for the concert tickets since early morning." Subject: "Fans" (plural). Time marker: "since early morning", indicating an action started in the past and still continuing. Options: has queued up, have had queued, have been queuing up, no improvement. Concept / Approach: The structure "since + point in time" usually pairs with present perfect or present perfect continuous tense. When the focus is on an action that has continued over a period, we prefer the present perfect continuous: "have been + verb ing". Here, the action of queuing (standing in line) has been in progress from early morning until now, so "Fans have been queuing up" is the most accurate and natural form. Other options either use the wrong auxiliary, the wrong tense, or an incorrect compound form. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Recognise that the subject "Fans" is plural, so any auxiliary must agree in number. We need "have", not "has".Step 2: Note the phrase "since early morning". This indicates that the action started earlier in the day and continues into the present, which points to present perfect continuous tense: "have been queuing".Step 3: Examine option C, "have been queuing up". This is exactly the present perfect continuous form for a plural subject and a dynamic verb like "queue". It shows ongoing action from the past until now.Step 4: Examine option A, "has queued up". It uses "has", which is singular, but the subject "Fans" is plural, so this breaks subject verb agreement. It also uses a simple present perfect form, not continuous.Step 5: Examine option B, "have had queued". This is an incorrect and awkward compound form that is not used in standard English for this meaning.Step 6: Option D, "no improvement", would accept the bare "queue" form, which is ungrammatical in this context. Therefore, option C is the only correct improvement. Verification / Alternative check: Insert option C into the sentence: "Fans have been queuing up for the concert tickets since early morning." This reads naturally and matches the pattern used in everyday English to describe ongoing queues or lines. Compare with other examples: "Students have been waiting outside since dawn", "People have been working on this project since January". Both use present perfect continuous with "since" plus a point in time, reinforcing that this is the right structure here as well. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option A fails due to subject verb disagreement and does not emphasise the ongoing nature of the action. Option B is simply not a valid construction in this context; "have had queued" does not express a clear tense or aspect and sounds incorrect. Option D is wrong because leaving the verb as just "queue" is not a complete tense form and does not integrate properly with "since". It would need an auxiliary to be grammatically complete. Common Pitfalls: Learners sometimes forget that "since" usually calls for a perfect or perfect continuous construction, not a simple present or simple past form. Another frequent error is choosing the wrong auxiliary ("has" instead of "have") when the subject is plural. A practical tip is to memorise the patterns "have/has been + ing" for ongoing actions since a point in time, and always check agreement between the auxiliary and the subject. Final Answer: The best improvement is "have been queuing up", so option C is correct.

Question 20

In this one word substitution question, you must select the single word that best replaces the phrase "become apparent through the appearance of symptoms", a phrase often used in medical or diagnostic contexts.

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This English vocabulary question is about one word substitution. You are given a descriptive phrase, "become apparent through the appearance of symptoms", and you must pick a single word that can replace this entire phrase in a precise and natural way. Such questions frequently appear in competitive examinations to test how well you understand nuanced meanings and usage of English words, especially those used in formal or medical contexts. Given Data / Assumptions: Target phrase: "become apparent through the appearance of symptoms". Options: manifest, distinct, visible, divulged. We assume the sense is similar to a medical condition or disease becoming evident when symptoms start to show. We need a verb or verbal adjective that matches this gradual becoming apparent. Concept / Approach: When doctors say that a disease "manifests", they mean that it becomes clear or evident through observable signs or symptoms. The word "manifest" in this context means "to show itself" or "to become apparent". The other options either do not capture the idea of showing through symptoms, or they do not work naturally as a one word replacement for the exact phrase. Therefore, we need to focus on precise dictionary meanings and typical collocations such as "the disease manifests with fever and rash". Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Rewrite the phrase in simpler form: something is not obvious at first but later becomes apparent through symptoms or signs. Step 2: Recall the meaning of "manifest": to become evident, to show clearly, often used about diseases and conditions. Step 3: Check common usage: "The illness may manifest as a persistent cough" is standard medical English. Step 4: Compare this with the given phrase; both describe the same process of becoming apparent through symptoms. Step 5: Confirm that "manifest" can grammatically replace the phrase in sentences such as "The condition will manifest in early childhood". Verification / Alternative check: Test each alternative. "Distinct" means clearly different or separate, not necessarily "becoming evident". "Visible" means something can be seen, but it does not include the idea that it emerges or shows itself through symptoms. "Divulged" means revealed or made known, usually about information or secrets, not about physical symptoms. Only "manifest" is routinely used in medical and general English for something that becomes apparent, especially through symptoms or behaviour. Why Other Options Are Wrong: "Distinct" focuses on difference between items rather than the process of appearing through symptoms. "Visible" refers merely to being seen, and does not convey the specific sense of becoming evident through symptoms. "Divulged" is used for secrets or confidential information revealed by a person, not for diseases or conditions showing themselves. Common Pitfalls: A common mistake is to choose a word that feels vaguely similar, such as "visible", without checking whether it fits technical usage. In exam settings, many distractors are broadly related but not exact synonyms. Always think about example sentences you have actually seen in books, articles, or news reports. In medical or psychological writing, the standard term is that a disease, disorder, or symptom "manifests", not that it is "divulged" or simply "visible". Final Answer: The best one word substitute is "manifest".

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